Not far from the front, in the Donetsk region, the men of "Alcatraz" are training for war. The unit belongs to the 93rd Brigade and is made up almost exclusively of former prisoners.
Denis is one of a total of 6.900 convicted criminals who have been released from prison early to fight in the Ukrainian army.
A young man with striking tattoos on his face is about to embark on his first mission on the front lines. "I didn't come to die, I came to kill," says Denis.
He says he has always wanted, and is therefore in the minority, to join the assault brigades.
Nine thousand requests to go to war
In Ukraine, few people still volunteer to join the army. Many are particularly afraid of the infantry, because this branch carries out the most dangerous and difficult tasks in the defense against Russia.
They fight in trenches on the front lines, are fired upon by mortars and artillery, or are hunted by drones.
Since May of last year, almost nine thousand Ukrainian prisoners have applied for early release to join the army. The calculation is simple and brutal: whoever survives the war will be a free man.
Without murderers and rapists
"This is a second chance for them," explains battalion commander Valentin (45). He is the only one here who has not been convicted of a crime.
“It’s easier to command a unit made up of ex-prisoners,” says Valentin. “Anyone who’s been in prison is more disciplined and used to order.”
Valentin, however, faces another challenge: "They are used to being controlled by someone. And that's why they follow orders without thinking. That has to change," he says.
Members of this unit have been convicted of theft, assault, or robbery. Murderers, rapists, or those convicted of terrorism, corruption, or treason are not eligible for early release under Ukrainian law.
Physical fitness is the most important
When Aleksandar learned about the new law last year, he immediately filed a request. Each request must be reviewed and approved by a judge.
He says that he is fighting above all for his family, so that crimes like those in Buča do not happen in his hometown of Dnipro.
Aleksandar is one of the first to arrive at "Alcatraz" and has at least four years of war experience from Donbas in 2014. However, the fighting back then cannot be compared to today's war.
"Today they are shooting at you with everything they have. The most important thing is to have good ears and observe everything carefully. Your life depends on every second."
The use of drones has changed warfare in Ukraine to a great extent, confirms Vladislav. Together with Aleksandr, he trains recently released prisoners.
Physical fitness is key to being able to move quickly and not be caught by enemy drones with explosive devices. "50 percent of our success depends on that," says Vladislav.
Motivation decides victory or defeat
The Ukrainian unit cannot be compared to Russia's Wagner troops, which have occasionally been mass-recruited from Russian prisons.
“The deciding factor is the motivation that someone wants to fight for their country,” says Commander Valentin. “If we choose the right people and work efficiently, then in my opinion this project has the right to exist,” says the commander.
Dennis is happy about the second chance his unit has given him. "I enjoy the fight. We go in, we take them out, and we get out quickly."
Denis survived his first combat mission. Colleagues from the unit later said that he proved to be a good fighter.
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